as not perhaps strange that I did not learn much at these London day schools — for I went to two of them。 The first I left suddenly。 It was managed by the head master and an usher whose names I have long forgotten。 The usher was a lanky; red…haired; pale…faced man whom we all hated because of his violent temper and injustice。 On one occasion when his back was turned to the class to which I belonged; that I presume was the lowest; I amused myself and my panions by shaking my little fists at him; whereon they laughed。 The usher wheeled round and asked why we were laughing; when some mean boy piped out:
“Please; sir; because Haggard is shaking his fists at you。”
He called me to him and I perceived that he was trembling with rage。
“You young brute!” he said。 “I’ll see you in your grave before you shake your fists at me again。”
Then he doubled his own and; striking me first on one side of the head and then on the other; knocked me all the way down the long room and finally over a chair into a heap of slates in a corner; where I lay a while almost senseless。 I recovered and went home。 Here my eldest sister Ella; noticing my bruised and dazed condition; cross…examined me until I told her the truth。 An interview followed between my father and the master of the school; which resulted in a dismissal of the usher and my departure。 Afterwards I met that usher in the Park somewhere near the Row; and so great was my fear of him that I never stopped running till I reached the Marble Arch。
After this my father sent me to a second day school where the pupils were supposed to receive a sound business education。
Then came the examination that I have mentioned at the hands of my brother…inlaw。 As a result I was despatched to the Rev。 Mr。 Graham; wh